Letter thanking the Council for the treatment of the roundabout at the junction of Witherwin Avenue and Bridge Lane

PH Owens
17 Beech Road
Stockton Heath
Warrington
WA4 6LT
20^th September 2003

Councillor Linda Dirir
Executive Board Member for Transportation
Town Hall
Sankey Street
Warrington
WA1 1UH

RE: ROUNDABOUT AT THE JUNCTION OF WITHERWIN AVENUE & BRIDGE LANE
Our Ref: WCC/PHO/WABLRB/001

Dear Cllr Dirir, roundabout

I am writing to thank the council on behalf of the Warrington Cycle Campaign for the excellent way in which the roundabout at the junction between Witherwin Avenue and Bridge Lane, Appleton has been treated.

Roundabouts are the most feared feature of the road network for cyclists. With good reason: cyclists are about 15 times more likely than car users to suffer an accident at a roundabout. The new town areas of Warrington are characterised by a large number of roundabouts, making a very hostile environment for cyclists.

In continental Europe roundabouts are designed to a much more cycle friendly geometry than conventional UK design. The key features of continental roundabout design are: arms that are perpendicular, rather than tangential to the roundabout, single lane entries and exits, minimal flare on entry, modest diameter and a single circulating traffic lane.

At this junction hatched areas have been painted to include many of the features of continental geometry. This has greatly improved the junction, both for cyclists and pedestrians. This is a very cost-effective way to improve the road environment for cyclists, and we would like to see a similar treatment applied to many of the other roundabouts in the town.

Yours sincerely

Pete Owens - For the Warrington Cycle Campaign

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